The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, and the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC), Wilmington, Del, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to partner on education, scientific discovery, and advocacy initiatives that will mutually benefit the pathologists, cytopathologists, lab professionals, and cytotechnologists who belong to the Societies.

This partnership will enhance their shared missions, leverage their respective resources and membership benefits, and create administrative efficiencies while allowing each society to maintain its own identity and governance.

ASC President Lydia P. Howell, MD, FASCP, professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, says that collaborating with ASCP will help ASC make a bigger and better difference to patient outcomes worldwide. “No organization has the resources to stand alone," she says. "We are positioning ASC as the cytopathology education provider for ASCP.”

Founded in 1951, ASC defines and promotes excellence in cytopathology, striving for the highest quality in patient care. Started in 1922, ASCP’s mission is to advance excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and lab professionals.

ASCP president C. Bruce Alexander, MD, FASCP, professor and vice chair of pathology and residency program director, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala, says that ASCP and ASC each have long, rich legacies, and we have often joined forces for the common good of their respective members. “This MOU formalizes and expands our collaboration to enhance patient care and to work together on state and national legislative and regulatory issues,” he says.

Immediate opportunities for collaboration include:

  • ASC providing cytology workshops for regional ASCP educational events for pathologists and laboratory professionals;
  • Supplying questions for resident in-service and fellow in-service examinations, as well as preparation for a cytopathology board review course;
  • Training in high-quality molecular diagnostics in support of scientists working in existing regional facilities;and
  • Supporting a single series of cytotechnology Webcasts with ASC and ASCP experts.

Thomas Bonfiglio, MD, MASCP, former president of both ASC and ASCP. says the socities’ missions overlap, especially in regard to education. He notes that adding that the resource of ASCP’s Washington office is a big benefit for ASC members.

The ASCP government affairs office will leverage ASCP’s and ASC’s formidable collective membership to advance patient-centric legislation and regulations for cytopathologists and cytotechnologists. These initiatives will be for national efforts such as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and the Affordable Healthcare Act, and local ones such as ensuring states that require licensure include the appropriate scope of practice. To address the workforce shortage, the two organizations will monitor the number of universities teaching cytotechnology and encourage program expansion to meet the demand.

ASC will participate in ASCP’s Center for Health Services Research for cancer diagnostics and recruit ASC members for the Center’s research projects. ASCP will serve as an adviser for ASC members continuing medical education (CME) needs, leveraging ASCP’s expertise as a premier CME provider. Additionally, ASC will present a Companion Society program at the 2013 ASCP Annual Meeting.

Elizabeth Jenkins, MSOL, ASC executive director, says that by working together, the members of the two groups will have more opportunities to learn from each other.

[Source: ASCP]